Ask a Country Vet: Fish and Reptile Advice

Our resident vet answers questions about your reptiles.

Our resident country vet, Dr. Robert Sharp, answers the most pressing questions about your fish, snakes, turtles, and more. Plus, get more great pet advice!Have a question for Dr. Sharp? Drop him a line at countryliving@hearst.com.

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Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Your Reptiles

Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Your Reptiles

Q: Which fish thrive in small bowls?

A: If you plan on adopting more than one little swimmer, a good rule of thumb is that one inch of fish requires at least one gallon of water to flourish. So when choosing your pet, think small: White cloud mountain fish, zebra danios, bettas, and little tetras and goldfish are good choices.

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Q: My son received a red-eared slider as a birthday present. I've heard these turtles carry salmonella; is it safe to let him keep the pet?

A: Red-eared sliders earned a bad rap in the 1970s, when a number of young children became infected with salmonella after handling these aquatic turtles. Turns out, the kids had been putting the tiny creatures in their mouths. So in 1975, the FDA banned the sale of turtles with shells under four inches long.

In truth, most reptiles and amphibians carry the bacterium that causes salmonella, and their owners must take precautions to avoid coming into contact with it. The FDA recommends that no child under 5 years old keep a turtle, lizard, or snake as a pet, based on the fact that these youngsters can't yet understand the need for proper hygiene. And humans of any age should wash their hands with soap and water after holding a turtle or touching an aquarium or any of its contents. Don't allow the critter to roam free in your home or swim in the bathtub. And never clean a turtle's habitat in the kitchen sink or anywhere food is prepared.

If your son and all other kids in the house are at least 5 years old and can obey these basic guidelines, the red-eared slider should make a fun addition to your family.

Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Your Reptiles

Q: Which fish thrive in small bowls?

A: If you plan on adopting more than one little swimmer, a good rule of thumb is that one inch of fish requires at least one gallon of water to flourish. So when choosing your pet, think small: White cloud mountain fish, zebra danios, bettas, and little tetras and goldfish are good choices.

istockphoto

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Q: My son received a red-eared slider as a birthday present. I've heard these turtles carry salmonella; is it safe to let him keep the pet?

A: Red-eared sliders earned a bad rap in the 1970s, when a number of young children became infected with salmonella after handling these aquatic turtles. Turns out, the kids had been putting the tiny creatures in their mouths. So in 1975, the FDA banned the sale of turtles with shells under four inches long.

In truth, most reptiles and amphibians carry the bacterium that causes salmonella, and their owners must take precautions to avoid coming into contact with it. The FDA recommends that no child under 5 years old keep a turtle, lizard, or snake as a pet, based on the fact that these youngsters can't yet understand the need for proper hygiene. And humans of any age should wash their hands with soap and water after holding a turtle or touching an aquarium or any of its contents. Don't allow the critter to roam free in your home or swim in the bathtub. And never clean a turtle's habitat in the kitchen sink or anywhere food is prepared.

If your son and all other kids in the house are at least 5 years old and can obey these basic guidelines, the red-eared slider should make a fun addition to your family.

Jonne Naarala

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Q: My leopard gecko used to discard his skin overnight, but lately the process has been taking several days. Is he just getting old, or could something be wrong?

A: It sounds like your lizard suffers from dysecdysis—a technical way of saying he's having trouble getting rid of his skin. And his advanced age has nothing to do with it: Even mature leopard geckos should be able to shed completely in about 24 hours.

The likely culprit? Low humidity. While it's true that these reptiles prefer dry habitats (humidity levels above 40 percent can make them susceptible to bacterial infections), geckos also need moist hideouts to help loosen their skin. This can be as basic as a plastic container turned upside down, with a hole cut for a doorway. Line the area with peat moss, and drop a little water on the peat each day; when the time comes, the reptile will retreat to that humid spot and should be able to shed with ease.

If your gecko still experiences difficulty, get him to a veterinary specialist who can investigate whether other factors, such as stress, nutritional deficiencies, or illness, may be to blame.

Nick Scott

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Q: I recently noticed my chameleon sticking the tip of his tongue out. Is that normal?

A: Not exactly. Skilled arboreal predators, chameleons can extend their tongues to a length greater than that of their bodies. But this food-grabbing action usually happens so quickly, humans are unable to see it without the help of a high-speed camera.

Occasionally, however, those far-reaching tongues go on the fritz. I wouldn't be too worried if your pet's behavior represents a rare (and brief), one-time occurrence. But if it happens often — or if his tongue sticks out a considerable length for several hours — a veterinary specialist should take a look. Find one near you at arav.org, the site for the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians. Infection or an injury caused by striking a hard surface (say, the side of the aquarium) could be to blame. So could a nutritional deficiency, resulting in issues with the hyoid, a bone situated at the very back of the tongue that helps propel the organ forward.

No matter what, double-check the husbandry guidelines for your lizard's species to ensure that both his diet and environment are supplying the vitamins and nutrients he needs. Oftentimes, something as simple as a lack of light or calcium can be at the root of the problem.

Yevgen Antonov/iStock

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Q: I introduced a few new fish to my aquarium, and now the tank is overrun with snails. What happened, and how can I end the invasion?

A: When your recent additions were scooped from the pet shop's tank, a snail — or even a tiny snail egg — probably hitched a ride in the same net. And since these shelled creatures don't need a mate to reproduce, what starts as a single stowaway can turn into a full-blown infestation in no time flat. Population control, not eradication, should be your goal. Begin by scooping up some snails with a net; even those stuck on the glass should detach easily. Do this every few days, allowing the water to settle in between — that'll cut down on the initial surge. For a long-term solution, enlist the help of snail-eating fish, such as clown loaches. These peaceful guys can keep the snail numbers at an acceptable level.

Sasha Radosavljevic/iStock

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Q: Does my bearded dragon need to hibernate?

A: Technically speaking, no. The term for a reptile's wintertime state is brumation, the cold-blooded equivalent of hibernation. Practically speaking? Not really. Though some pet lizards carry on this instinctive survival tactic — and stop eating, drinking, and moving for weeks at a time — it's by no means necessary. The fact is, your dragon experiences the same "weather" and "daylight" conditions year-round, since you control its habitat. For optimum health, bearded dragons do need a temperature gradient: In a 55-gallon aquarium, the daytime range should include a cool end (75 degrees), a warm end (85 or so), and a basking spot (95 to 105). The folks at your pet store can suggest the right lightbulbs, which are easy to mount on the terrarium and run on timers. The whole system usually costs around $50.Even in well-lit digs, your beardie may get the primal urge to brumate — any time of year. If the lethargy lasts more than a few weeks, call your vet, who will likely confirm that your pet's just hunkering down and should return to normal in no time.

Shannon Plummber/iStock

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Q: Is there anything I can do to keep a goldfish alive for more than a month?

A: Absolutely. The key here is to give the fish a proper abode, instead of depositing the poor guy in any old glass bowl. A simple three-gallon aquarium should cost only about $40, and be sure to pick up a floating thermometer too. Once you bring your fishhome, float the bag in your aquarium in order for the water temperatures to equalize. Open the sack and let in a bit of air, then close it up again. When the bag and tank temps reach within two degrees of each other (here’s where that thermometer comes in), add half a cup of liquid from the tank to the bag so your fish can acclimate; repeat a few times at 10-minute intervals. Then you can release your fish safely into the tank.

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Q: Should I buy my teenage son a pet snake?

A: Did you know that snakes are carnivores, which means your son will have to feed his pet prey animals, such as baby mice? Or that cold-blooded reptiles need an enclosure with cool and warm areas? Or that snakes can live 20 years or longer? So you’ll have to care for your son's reptile when he leaves for college. If you can handle these caveats, a slithering pet may be in your family's future.

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Q: Are koi fish easy to care for?

A: If you've ever maintained a fish tank, you should be able to master a koi pond, which is essentially a super-size outdoor aquarium with filtration and aeration needs similar to its indoor counterpart's. Just like with an aquarium, stock only a few fish to start, then add more as you gain experience and the pond ecologically matures.

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Q: Does an iguana make a good pet for my young boys?

A: In reality, iguanas are wild animals best cared for by a dedicated adult. Untamed, they can be aggressive and even dangerous for youngsters to handle. An iguana's strict dietary and housing needs may prove taxing for an adult to contend with on a regular basis, much less your boys.